Epidemiological and molecular insights into Human Papillomavirus-related head and neck squamous cell carcinomas
type: CreativeWork
description: Over the last decade, Scotland has witnessed a rising incidence in squamous cell carcinomas of the head and neck (HNSCC), a phenomenon thought to be linked to infection with high-risk Human Papillomavirus (HPV). HPV-associated HNSCC are a distinct disease presenting unique epidemiological, biological and clinical challenges. However, establishing HPV-related disease is impaired by non-standardised testing protocols and lack of a consensus on the efficacy of existing biomarkers such as p16. This is further complicated by the absence of additional biological markers and a dearth in our understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying HPV-driven tumourigenesis. While HPV positivity is more commonly detected in the oropharynx, its prevalence and clinical impact in other head and neck subsites remains largely unexplored. The research presented in this thesis was undertaken to determine the prevalence of high-risk HPV in a heterogeneous cohort of 293 HNSCC patients from Tayside and to evaluate the validity of EBP50, a scaffolding protein involved in cell polarity which is targeted by high-risk HPV, as a potential marker for HPV-driven HNSCC. The p16 status of the patients in the cohort was already known and tissue specimens were genotyped for HPV using PCR. HPV infection, defined as p16 positivity and a positive HPV DNA status, was identified in 14% of the cohort. The majority (83%) of the HPV-positive tumours involved the oropharynx while the oral cavity, pharynx and the nasal cavity (17%) were involved to a much smaller extent. High-risk HPV type 16 was the most prevalent HPV type. Patients with HPV-positive tumours had significantly improved overall survival (OS) (2 year OS, 77% vs 57%) and recurrence free survival rates (RFS) (2 year RFS, 92% vs 77%) compared to patients with HPV-negative tumours. A positive tumour HPV status was found to be an independent prognostic indicator (HR 0.216; 95% CI 0.06 – 0.771) and so, given the high morbidity and debilitating physic…
abstract: Over the last decade, Scotland has witnessed a rising incidence in squamous cell carcinomas of the head and neck (HNSCC), a phenomenon thought to be linked to infection with high-risk Human Papillomavirus (HPV). HPV-associated HNSCC are a distinct disease presenting unique epidemiological, biological and clinical challenges. However, establishing HPV-related disease is impaired by non-standardised testing protocols and lack of a consensus on the efficacy of existing biomarkers such as p16. This is further complicated by the absence of additional biological markers and a dearth in our understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying HPV-driven tumourigenesis. While HPV positivity is more commonly detected in the oropharynx, its prevalence and clinical impact in other head and neck subsites remains largely unexplored. The research presented in this thesis was undertaken to determine the prevalence of high-risk HPV in a heterogeneous cohort of 293 HNSCC patients from Tayside and to evaluate the validity of EBP50, a scaffolding protein involved in cell polarity which is targeted by high-risk HPV, as a potential marker for HPV-driven HNSCC. The p16 status of the patients in the cohort was already known and tissue specimens were genotyped for HPV using PCR. HPV infection, defined as p16 positivity and a positive HPV DNA status, was identified in 14% of the cohort. The majority (83%) of the HPV-positive tumours involved the oropharynx while the oral cavity, pharynx and the nasal cavity (17%) were involved to a much smaller extent. High-risk HPV type 16 was the most prevalent HPV type. Patients with HPV-positive tumours had significantly improved overall survival (OS) (2 year OS, 77% vs 57%) and recurrence free survival rates (RFS) (2 year RFS, 92% vs 77%) compared to patients with HPV-negative tumours. A positive tumour HPV status was found to be an independent prognostic indicator (HR 0.216; 95% CI 0.06 – 0.771) and so, given the high morbidity and debilitating physic…
author: Shankar, Athiva
language: eng
keywords: HPV, EBP50
date published: 2016
date modified: 2026-07-24T02:08:19Z
provider: University of Dundee
publisher: Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations
type: WebPage
source organization: University of Dundee